What To Tell Your Personal Injury Lawyer

May 01, 2017
By
Pierce, Herns, Sloan & Wilson, LLC

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Most
personal injury victims do not realize that aspects of their personal life can dramatically
affect their claim and their potential settlement. If you are filing a
personal injury claim, make sure that you are upfront and honest about
everything in your life. This is so your attorney can properly strategize
and prepare for unique circumstances in your claim.

Remember to tell your personal injury attorney the following information
about you and your case:

Information about your accident and injury: Provide your attorney with details about what happened, where it occurred,
parties involved, information about witnesses, and the extent of your
injuries. The more details you are able to give your attorney, the more
prepared he or she can be while compiling your claim.

Any previous injuries and health issues: Insurance companies may look through your medical records to identify
pre-existing conditions or other reasons to minimize your settlement.
Be honest with your attorney about your medical history, including mental
illnesses, previous injuries, and other information about your health.

Bankruptcy: In some states, your personal injury settlement can be counted as a part
of your estate. In North Carolina, personal injury awards are typically
exempt while pain and suffering damages may be included in a bankruptcy
estate. For best possible results, coordinate with your personal injury
attorney and bankruptcy lawyer.

Criminal history: Let your attorney know if you have been convicted or arrested for misdemeanors
and/or felonies. The insurance companies will do a thorough background
check on you in an attempt to discredit your claims. While having a criminal
history shouldn’t disqualify you from recovering personal injury
compensation, your attorney should know about this information so he or
she can prepare accordingly.

Divorce: Even something as personal as a divorce should be discussed with your
injury lawyer. Your compensation award could be included as a part of
your property division settlement. Also, if your spouse is divorcing you
because of your injury, you may be able to calculate this as a part of
your emotional distress damages.

Contacts with insurance companies: If insurance companies are contacting you and asking you to make statements
or sign off on anything - don’t do it without consulting your attorney.
One wrong word can put you at risk of receiving a less than ideal settlement.

An experienced attorney will know what type of questions to ask you in
order to prepare the most effective claim possible. At
Pierce, Herns, Sloan & Wilson, LLC, our Charleston personal injury attorneys have decades of proven experience
helping South Carolina’s injured seek full and fair recovery from
insurers. We put all of our resources, knowledge, and experience to fight
for your best interests.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.